Chris Little

We went to the store this week and bought school supplies. Do you remember how excited you were as a kid to start school? Well, maybe not start school, but to at least get all that new stuff! The new folders, new crayons, new backpack, and everyone’s favorite…the new lunch box. You went from Star Wars to The A-Team or maybe you’re the kid that went from Strawberry Shortcake to The Smurf’s. What an exciting time – then school started.

Remember that first day of school? You got all your new stuff and you be-bop into the classroom with your backpack full of stuff and your mom has actually made you a cool lunch – for once – and you are ready for a new year. You meet old friends, new friends, get a new seat, new classroom, and a new teacher and you are giddy with excitement. Your teacher says “Hi” and asks about your summer and all is good with the world. Before you know it it is time for recess, then lunch and the day is flying by when all of a sudden the teacher says, “Class, we are going to take a quiz.” Ugh! Agh! What? Is she kidding? It’s really still summer isn’t it? We all love school until it costs us something or we have to work a little bit. We all love school in the beginning, but at the end of the school year we are so ready for it to end.

Does going to church ever feel that way to you? All excited about it and looking forward to it and then…you know, it’s church. You end up checking it off your list of completed tasks for the day/week and move on. Then the next week you gather all your stuff and then…until you are not gathering all your things and going to church? Why is that? What happened?

There are a variety of reasons why, but I have found in my own life that I can narrow it down to one – my pursuit of Jesus. I’ve forgotten the reason I go to church, am a part of the church, actually the church in action. Jesus loves the church. He actually cared so much about the church he called it his bride. What a beautiful picture! Who doesn’t love a wedding? Everyone is excited, dressed up, smells good, and everyone has hope. Hope that this marriage relationship will not just last, but be successful and thrive! Then 5, 10, 15 years down the road…is there still that excitement, does everyone still dress up, smell good, or have hope? Not always. Why? Many times it is distraction from our first love. Careers, education, kids, you name it and it can be a distraction to a marriage relationship.

The same is true for our relationship with Jesus. You met, fell in love and where standing at the altar ready for what was to become…and then you were distracted. You start going to church because you have to go. You are even inconvenienced by your need to go. So, how do you change your church experience? Go on a date with Jesus! When is the last time you intentionally set aside time for Jesus? Try it, you might like it. You might like church again too. You might actually meet some people at church who love Jesus too.

Awwww! The excitement of school supplies…I can’t wait until next school year!

I carry around a box. It’s a nice shiny box. It’s been wrapped up real nice and neat so that when people see my box they think that my God is attractive to them. It’s my duty right? My duty to make it look like God always does things according to how He should so that people will be attracted to Him. However, to be honest, the box underneath the shiny, neat wrapping is all torn up and ugly looking. It has been put back together with duct tape and is all scarred up. That is what my real life looks like underneath the nice, pretty packaging.

Well, a few weeks ago my box was ripped open. A friend mine died way too young, it seemed that I did a thousand funerals, every other person was being diagnosed with cancer or some terminal disease, or they were losing something or someone important to them. It was to the point that I had a heated debate with God over what He was doing. He obviously was not cooperating with my agenda for Him.

I was directed to Jonah 3 & 4 and it seemed that Jonah had walked in the same shoes that I was walking in that week. In Jonah 3 God re-establishes Jonah’s call to share God’s impending doom upon Nineveh. Jonah was excited about the opportunity to see God bring justice to the city of Nineveh. He could not wait to see them get what they deserved. Jonah preaches and the people are moved by God to the point that they repent. Jonah was MAAAADDD!!!! I’m sure Jonah was saying, “God, why do the scum of the world get to experience your grace? They deserve your mighty justice! Wipe ‘em out!” I’ve thought that same thing. I’ve said in my heart,  “God, why do the scum of the earth keep prospering and the good…die young?”

I then thought about all the reasons that I get angry with God. First, is when God does not provide healing when I ask for it. I mean, I am asking for his glory to be done. I know that the person who has been healed from their malady will tell the story of how God healed them and everyone will be moved and give God glory for their healing. I think about the story in John 5:6-16 of the man who sat by the Pool of Bethesda for 30+ years waiting to be the first person into the pool so he can be healed. Then Jesus walks up to him one day and asks the most obvious question ever, “Do you want to be healed?” What the heck? Can you imagine the lame man saying, “Uh, no, I like sitting here. I will pass on the healing offer, but thanks anyway.” The man by the pool said, “Yes.” Jesus told him to get up and take his mat. So he did. He didn’t even know Jesus’ name.

Then I think about the man whose friends brought him to be healed by Jesus but the crowd was so big they couldn’t get to him. So, being good friends, they climbed up on the roof, tore through it and dropped their friend at the feet of Jesus (Luke 5:17-26). Jesus heals him too. I have brought my friends’ needs and dropped them at the feet of Jesus too, but nothing seems to happen. Why? I then read Matthew 21:22 and it tells me, “Whatever you ask for in prayer you will receive, if you have faith.” Do I not have enough faith to ask for my friends and loved ones healing?

I also get angry with God over shattered dreams. A loss of a job, a loved one, etc. I think of the story of Lazarus and his death (John 11:20-27; 32-35). We know the end of the story and that Lazarus was brought back from the dead, but Mary and Martha didn’t. Their dreams were shattered when Lazarus died. They sent word to Jesus, one of their best friends, and he didn’t show up on time. He was too late. Martha runs out to Jesus when does arrive (late) and tells him, “If only you’d been here!” Mary then hears that Jesus has shown up (late) and falls at his feet and says, “If only you’d been here!” The pain is deep in the midst of shattered dreams. I’ve thought the same thing…”Jesus, if only you’d have been here when I asked you to be here!”

I also get angry with God when I believe he doesn’t care. Remember the story of Jesus and his disciples on a boat in the midst of a storm (Mark 4:35-41)? A storm comes up and the disciples are freaking out. They are using buckets to keep the boat from being overcome by the waves of water and sinking the boat. It’s an all hands on deck situation. They are scrambling around and then someone looks over and sees Jesus…sleeping?! Someone in the group runs over to Jesus and wakes him up. Can you imagine that conversation? “Hey, uh, Jesus…yeah, sorry to wake you but we got a little situation here. Feel those rain drops? Yeah, well…WE ARE ABOUT TO DIE! HOW CAN YOU SLEEP DURING THIS?” Jesus’ response is basically, “Uh, (yawn), why are you guys fearful? Storm, be still.”  It stops… Do you ever feel like God is sleeping at the wheel? Your boat is sinking and he does not seem to give a rip. Or as the disciples asked him, “Do you not care that we are perishing?”

I also get angry with God when he blows up my theological understanding of Him. I have a doctorate in God. I’m supposed to tell others about how God works; “If you do this, God will do this.”  I was reminded of the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).  You know it well. The younger son comes to the Father and asks for his inheritance and he gets his half early. The younger son runs off and squanders his inheritance on everything that the Father has told him to stay away from as a young man. He does it with an intention of hurting the heart of his Father. The whole time the older son is at home performing his duties, doing his thing, and being obedient to what his Father asks of him. The older son cannot wait to hear the “dressing down” his younger brother is going to get when he comes home after spending his inheritance. He loves to see justice given out. Then one day the older brother comes in from his duties and  hears a party going on and I bet he is thinking, “Finally, father is going to celebrate me. Yes, I’m getting some big-time gifts.” Then a servant tells him, “Uh, that’s for your younger brother. He has come home. Your father has lavished him with gifts…” The older brother thought, “What?! I’ve been the good son. I’ve been here the whole time doing what the Father asked. I deserve the party, not my brother. He deserves justice!” I’m the older brother.

So, when do you get angry with God? Why do you get angry with him? God has reminded me, “My ways are not your ways Chris; My thoughts are not your thoughts Chris.” Then I’m reminded of Romans 6:23 and what the wages of my sin is…okay, I’m really deserving of those wages, BUT I’ve accepted his grace. I’ve convinced myself that I deserved God’s grace more than “those people.”

Jonah went away from Nineveh pouting & angry because God offered grace to “those people.” He wanted justice for the people Nineveh. He was just extended grace, but he deserved it. Jonah’s God-box had been ripped apart.

Well, my box has been ripped apart. I keep duct-taping it. When God jumps out of my box that I have for him and I get angry, upset, or want to quit I have to run back to the simple truth’s. This time I was reminded of the song Jesus Loves Me. Remember the words? Jesus Loves Me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, for we are weak and He is strong…

In Apple Confidential the author tells the story of Steve Jobs’  pursuit and interaction with John Scully (then CEO of PEPSICO). Jobs and Scully discussed the opportunity of joining the Apple team for a little while and then Jobs lays out a challenge. He said, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?”

Jesus asked his disciples basically the same question when he asked if they were willing to “Come follow me.” The disciples threw down whatever they were doing – fishing, collecting taxes, building stuff – and followed him for a chance to change the world. They did not fully understand what that meant when they started out in their new venture. However, along the way they were so convinced of the product they were selling they were willing to die to for it.

We are told that Jesus came into the world so that we might “have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10b). I see two parts to this promise. The first is the promise of an eternal, spiritual life through Jesus’ death on the cross. The second is a life now that has meaning and purpose beyond just the mundane of everyday. If Jesus is our model for living the answer could be found in examining his life & habits. Let’s see…he prayed on a regular basis, studied the bible, went to the Temple, participated in a small group, mentored a few people, and did ministry according to his passions & gifts. Does that sound radical?

What about his disciples? If they modeled their life after Jesus what did they do? I mean, maybe Jesus offered them some keen insight to them before he died. Well, they prayed on a regular basis, studied the bible, went to Temple and house churches, participated in small groups, mentored people, and did ministry according to their passions & gifts. That doesn’t sound too radical either?

It could be “hidden” in Jesus’ words when he said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35). What does Jesus mean? I think he is saying that the “full life” comes from pursuing him and giving your life (what people have a tendency to call life – my comfort, convenience, etc.)  away in the pursuit of seeing others see Jesus through our us.

Maybe another way to put it is,  “Is there enough evidence (less of you and more of Jesus) to convict you of being a disciple of Jesus” (James 2:14-26)?

What will history write about you? He/She had a chance to change the world? Or will history have to add the infamous “but” to the lost opportunities?

Do you want to spend the rest of your life __________________________, or do you want a chance to change the world?

What a wonderful Easter weekend! As I was contemplating Easter and all that it means for me, the Spirit orchestrated this “thought” in me. “Chris, where do you still need God’s resurrection power in your life?”

Easter is a wonderful time of celebration, but sometimes I wonder if it becomes “another holiday” for us as Christians? I must admit, it started out that way for me this year. My prayer for myself, and you, coming out of this Easter is, “Where do I still need God’s resurrection power?” I do not want a better life just because of a more disciplined life, but because God’s resurrection power has and is transforming my heart/will/mind.

How did God speak to you this week(end)? Where do you still need the resurrection power of Jesus in your life?

God’s love for His people never withers away. It is always spring time. His love for us is like a 24/7, 365 days a year for the rest of our lifetime honeymoon! Who would not sign up for that?
God is love (1 John 4:16). It is his character, his makeup, his nature. If you were to squeeze God like a sponge – love would ooze out. If you were to squeeze some of us – “stuff” other than love would ooze out. How do I know that God is love (1 John 4:7-10)? I know because I have experienced his love. My words are inadequate to describe it – you just have to experience it for yourself.
God’s love motivated him to offer us a gift, a great sacrifice on his part, himself. He literally gave his life so that I could be bought from the marketplace of slavery (Rom. 3:23-25). Real love always leads to sacrifice at some level (1 John 3:16a).
His love and sacrifice has guaranteed us the greatest life. It’s actually a pretty easy life too – love God with every part of your being and love your neighbor as much as you love yourself (Matt. 22:37-39). I got the loving God down most of the time. I am also really good at loving myself – I will go to no amount of expense or inconvenience to show myself love. My neighbor? God, do you know them? Then, it hit me. God is in the same marketplace where he “bought” me ready to buy them too.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41) because the people did not understand how much he loved them. Jesus counted the cost (his love persevered) and he still gave his life for mine. God wants me to love others like he has loved me. When was the last time I wept over my neighbors? My kids’ school? The people at the grocery store?
I want to love my neighbor…God, grant me the heart that weeps over them!

Or does it not fail all the time? It seems that way. As I was reading through the 1 Corinthians 13 passage these three words, “Love never fails,” are stuck right in the middle. At first I thought, “Aw! That’s neat.” Then I began to let that settle on me a little bit and thought, “Well, that’s not always true.” I know I’ve failed at loving well and I know others who have experienced the same type of failure. None of us are perfect right? Then I tried to put myself in the shoes of others and it hit me. Anyone who says “Love never fails” is naive and seriously mistaken.
So, how in the world does Paul say “Love never fails?” He says it in full view of the cross. There is no other way to say it and understand it. Love does fail – we have all experienced the pain of love gone bad. Does that make us give up on love? I hope not.
In view of the cross love never fails. Will I ever love anyone like that? Maybe. Can I ever love anyone like that? In view of the cross, yes.

I have been contemplating this over the past weeks and months in a variety of contexts – personal life, church life, and the “world”. Of course, everyone has a different opinion about what is going on. You look at the world (earthquakes, wars, etc.) and you hear people say “it’s the end times!” Well, yes, and Paul said that too over 2,000 years ago. You can look at the statistics surrounding the universal church and see that it looks like we are losing ground and not gaining ground – especially in the U.S. I have found that just because I am a “professional Christian” doesn’t mean that my personal life will always be perfect either.
As I thought about all this, I was drawn back to the early church in Acts. The reason I was drawn there, I believe, is because God is rooting around in my soul and asking, “What does it really mean to be a disciple of Jesus these days?”
Here are a few items that caught my attention:
1) The Gospel was being preached (Acts 2:38; 5:42; 8:4; 10:34-8). The early church (disciples) were telling people about Jesus everywhere they went, even when they were in a situation that was inconvenient and not of their choosing.
2) People were responding to the gospel (Acts 2:41; Acts 8, & more). The people heard the truth and responded to it. Why?
3) There was outward evidence of the people’s internal transformation (Acts. 2:42-6). They were radically different people after their conversion.
4) Their lifestyle drew others to Jesus (Acts 4:47; 5:41, & more). People were drawn to these new believers because of the way they were living.
So, I am doing a “gut check” right now. Am I preaching the gospel (words are necessary)? Am I seeing people respond to the gospel? If not, rethink question #1 again. Is there outward evidence in my life that I am a follower of Jesus? If I were in court, how easy would it be to find evidence (other than I am a pastor)? Does my lifestyle draw people to Jesus or repel them from Jesus?
I’m pretty sure God is up to all kinds of stuff around the world, & in my church, but what is doing in me? What is he doing in you? Could you be convicted of being a Jesus follower?

I was listening to someone speak the other day and it was painfully obvious to me that they were thirsty, or at least in need of something to solve the dry mouth issue. It was obvious because I have been in that same spot – dry mouth and no water. As I was listening to the speaker I began thinking about water and I made a little note to do some research on water. Well, I did, and I was reminded of how fortunate that I am to have water available when I am thirsty. That there are plenty of people around the world who go without water or who do not have clean water to drink. I looked at the statistics of water from around the world and was astonished.
Here are a few:
* 3.6 million deaths from water-related disease.
* 84% of those deaths are children (0-14 years.)
* 1 in 8 do not have safe water to drink.
* An American taking a 5 minute shower uses more water than the average person in a developing country does all day.*
Wow! Those are some sobering statistics. We have become so accustomed to clean water in the U.S. that it does not always cross our minds how fortunate we are.
As I was thinking about those stats my spirit kept tugging at me. It kept leading me back to John 7:37-39. It is where Jesus says to the Temple goers, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
Jesus’ audience would have been watching someone carry water from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple as a symbolic reminder of Moses striking the rock in the desert to provide water for the Israelites in the desert. The Israelites were thirsty.
I have been thirsty too. I remember “all-a-days” football practices in South Texas (100 degrees & 100% humidity). It was hot and you got thirsty. I remember standing over the water trough thinking I was never going to get enough to drink. Have you ever felt that thirsty?
Have ever been really thirsty and got something to drink and something was wrong with it and you spit it out or it just did not satisfy your thirst? Once, on a trip to Latvia, we had been running around and gotten hot and thirsty. We had these huge water bottles that we had bought for just this occasion. We hadn’t paid close attention to them when we bought them (cause we didn’t know we had to) and when we took a drink expecting satisfying water and we got mineral water…we spewed in unison! Nasty!
(The next time we went to the store to buy water we studied the bottles to ensure that we bought the right water.)
Jesus tells us that he will satisfy our thirst. I have run after other drinks over the years hoping that they will satisfy – they have promised me better taste, that I would look cooler, or quick, big returns – but they didn’t ever fulfill on their promise. I went back to the “boring” water of Jesus…it satisfies.
So, what you been drinking? Is it satisfying your thirst or leaving you wanting more? Do yourself a favor…drink some water.
*(www.water.org)